Fertilizer-distributer.



L. A. BRUMLEY.

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. APPLICATION FILED MAR.Z419|6.

L l fim Patented Jan, 23, 1917.

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L. A. BBUMLEY.

FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1916.

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LESTER, A. BRUMLEY, OF SANFORD, FLORIDA.

FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1917..

Application fi1ed March 24, 1916. Serial No. 88,408.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lns'rnn A. BRUMLiiY, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Sanford, in the county of Seminole and State ofFlorida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFertilizer-Distributers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a fertilizer distributor ofsuch construction that the amount of fertilizer distributed may becontrolled by the operator.

A further object of my invention is to mount the wheels of the machinewithin the plane of the sides of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to so mount the front wheels of themachine that they may be adjusted toward or from each other so that thedistance between them may be varied to enable them to straddle varioussizes of rows of growing plants.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a fertilizerdistributor of a con struction which is efiicient in use, durable andcheap to manufacture; and with these and other objects in View myinvention con sists of the parts and combination of parts as will behereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fertilizerdistributer embodying by invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of thesame. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of 1. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of myimproved machine. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view through thefertilizer box. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the broad cast plate. Fig.7 is a top plan view of a gage plate for distributing fertilizer tothree rows of plants. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of another gage plate.

The body of the machine, which is designated by the reference numeral 1,constitutes the holder for the fertilizer and may be of any desiredshape, but I prefer that its front and rear walls converge at the bottomso that the body is in'efiect, funnel shape, as clearly shown in Figs. 3and 5. The shafts 2 project forwardly from the machine.

Leading from the bottom of the body or fertilizer box or container arethree distributing nozzles or funnels 3, 4, and 5. The nozzles 3 and 5being positioned at or near the ends of the container 1 while the nozzle4 is positioned at the center of the container. This arrangement adaptsthe machine to front of the container 1 and straps 7 extend from therear end of the shafts to the back of the container. Bracket arms orpedestals 8 are secured to the cross piece 6 and depend therefrom, inpairs; the pedestals of each pair being spaced comparatively wide apart,as shown in Fig. 1.. The lower ends of these pedestals carry journalboxes 9 in which the axles or journals 10 are mounted at each end.Suitable braces 11 extend from the pedestals 8 to the cross pieces 6.

Traction wheels 12 are mounted on and suitably keyed to the axles 10 insuch manner that they may be moved longitudinally of the axles wherebythey may be adjusted relatively to each other to adapt them to fitvarious size rows of plants varying, for instance, from twenty-four tothirty-four inches. The machine sets over two rows of plants while thetraction wheels run between these rows and two other rows of plants. Atthe rear of the machine I secure a bracket 13 to the container which hasa bro-ad bearing surface 1 1 to which the caster 15 is swiveled.Suitable braces 16 extend between the bracket 13 and the container 1.

The pedestals are connected to the container 1 by means of braces 17 and18, one end of the braces 18 being secured to the end walls of thecontainer. A flat rod 20 connects the top of the pedestal to the brace18. An idler wheel 21 is mounted on a bracket 22 which latter isadjustably mounted on the brace 18, whereby the slack in a drive chain23 may be taken up. The bottom of the container 1 terminates in arestricted opening which is covered by means of the broad cast plate 24secured to the bottom of the box by means of screws, nails, or the like,which pass through the openings 25. This broad cast distributor plate 24is provided throughout its length with a series of openings 26. A gageplate 27 having a tooth like edge 28 is slidably mounted above the plate24. The teeth of said plate being adapted to control the size of thepassageway for the fertilizer lever 28 being provided with a suitabledog to cooperate with said ratchet. A link 31 is pivotally connectedwith the lower end of the hand lever 28 at one end and at its other endis connected to the gage plate 27 by 'means of a knuckle or othersuitable joint 32, whereby the gage bar or plate 27 may be movedlongitudinally relatively to the broad cast plate 24: and thus regulatethe amount of fertilizer distributed. I When the machine is used tofertilize rows of plants, I use the plate 33 which is provided withthree openings 3st for fertilizer to pass through. The toothed edge 28of the gage bar 27 also registers with and controls the size of thepassageway through the openings 34 and this controls the amount offertilizer for each row of plants. All of the plates 24, 27, and workunder the container and form a bottom therefor. The container may beprovided with any suitable agitator 35 to facilitate the flow of thefertilizer and this agitator is operated by means of sprocket wl eels 36on the end of its shaft which in turn are operated by means of the chain23, which in turn is operated by means of sprocket wheels 37 keyed tothe shafts 10. Among the advantages of this machine may be stated, thefact that the machine fertilizes two complete rows and the half of twoother rows of plants in one passage across a field and the work isaccomplished without any efiort at all on the part of the operator,except that of *alking behind the machine and operate the gage plate 27at the ends of the rows when the machine is being turned around toprevent waste of fertilizer. The front wheels are positioned in front ofthe container, and travel between the rows of plants. The advantages ofhaving the front wheels so positioned is that the machine may be drivenclose to a fence, in-

asmuch as there is no projection beyond the r ends of the container.This arrangement of wheels dispenses with the usual projecting wheelaxle on each side of the machine wnereby I am enabled to materiallyreduce the overall width of the machine without within the verticalplane of the end walls of the container and means operated by thetraction wheels for feeding material in the container.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

LESTER A. BRUMLEY.

Witnesses SoHnLLn Mamas,

F. H. HAnRIs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. 6.

